Method, apparatus and article of manufacture for displaying traversing and playing content in a multi-dimensional topic space

ABSTRACT

A computer system utilizing software to map content by determining a field of relevance and at least one topic in the field of relevance is presented. The system determines at least one content pertaining to the topic, retrieves a representation of the content and maps the representation of the content onto the field of relevance. Then, it provides an extremely flexible presentation mechanism where the content is organized by multi-dimensional mappings to present the information effectively. The system also provides a navigation aid for traversing multi-dimensional information utilizing a variety of features and tools for effectively visualizing the information. One of the features allows a vector to be assigned to each entity, queries a user or software agent for a particular focal element and displays the multiplicity of distinguishable entities based upon the assigned vectors utilizing the focal vector as a reference point to view the information. The system facilitates the organization of results of database interrogations, web searches and other large data situations, creating a multi-dimensional topic space of content and the tools to navigate the space effectively. The topic space is traversed by dynamically modifying the focal vector, which modifies the visualization of the information to conform the user or software agent&#39;s directions. The invention represents a novel, unique approach that matches nicely with the requirements of the Internet to efficiently examine the results from search engines in an efficient manner.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention involves creation, display and traversal ofmulti-dimensional content arrangements using a computer.

Content will be considered within this document to refer to at least oneinstance of text, visual content, audio content or audio-visual content.Visual content as used herein includes still video, motion video andinteractive video. Still video is composed of a still frame. Motionvideo is displayed as a temporal succession of still frames. The exactstorage and transfer mechanisms of motion video data are available in awide variety of mechanisms which are well known to those of skill in theart. Interactive video incorporates at least still video content with aninteractive response from at least one user. Certain implementations ofinteractive video incorporate motion video content as well asinteractive user response.

FIG. 1 displays a prior art one-dimensional table of content. Such priorart implementations can be found in a variety of settings, such aschannel guides for show times on cable or satellite television in avariety of locations throughout the United States. A video displaydevice enclosure 10, with a display device 12, interfaces with aselector device 18 by a physical transport mechanism 16 to an interface14.

Relevant prior art display devices 12 are also widely varied in form andspecifics of operation. Relevant prior art display devices 12 maypresent black and white or color images. Relevant prior art displaydevices 12 may support either a vector or raster format. Relevant priorart display devices 12 may present images in either a 2-D, 3-D ormulti-dimensional presentation view or collection of views.

Relevant embodiments of selector device 18 include but are not limitedto contemporary television channel selectors, home entertainment centerremote controls, computer pointing devices including but not limited to3-D and 2-D mouse-style pointers, pen tablets, track balls, touch padsand joy sticks. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the selector devicecommunicates via physical transport mechanism 16 with an interface 14housed in enclosure 10. Relevant physical transport mechanisms 16include but are not limited to infra-red, micro-wave and other similarwireless transport layers, as well as wires and optical fiber. Themechanism by which communication is carried out based upon the specificphysical transport mechanism employed is not relevant to this inventionand will not be discussed for that reason. Additional 10 devices such asprinters and keyboards may be attached to various relevant, prior artsystems. Keyboards may house touch pads and mouse sticks which incertain cases are the relevant selector device of that system.

Typical prior art implementations often incorporate a time setting 20shown here at the top and center of the display area. This can bealtered using the selector device 18 to increment forward or backward intime, sometimes traversing days. Note that time setting 20 oftenincorporates a day and/or date component as well. The time setting 20often denotes a half hour viewing period starting the displayed time,often referred to as a time slot.

Typical prior art implementations are further composed of multiple rowsof information depicted as 22, 30 and 32, each representing specificentertainment events. Each row is typically, further composed of achannel component 24, a show component 26 and a show time component 28.The exact ordering of these components within each row may vary from oneimplementation to another. The channel component 24 often incorporates anumeric and a call sign designation. The show component 26 oftenincorporates notations indicating whether there is more detailedprogramming information available regarding the entertainmentrepresented. The show time component 28 often incorporates a startingtime and an ending time.

Typical prior art implementations are used in television systemsinvolving many different channels, frequently supporting over onehundred channels broadcasting simultaneously. It is common for suchsystems to possess many more channels than can be displayed at one time.Traversal of such implementations is supported by use of specificselector device 18 manipulations, which either change which channels aredisplayed, the time slot starting time, or trigger playing the contentof the entertainment designated by a row.

While such display technology represents a distinct advance overprevious approaches to representing and traversing entertainmentoffering, there are some inherent frustrations. It is difficult if notimpossible to perform searches of the entertainment schedule database.The arrangement is fixed, unable to be configured to reflect what theuser considers most relevant. One user may focus on team sportingevents, while a different user is strongly interested in gardening andtravel shows, and yet another user favors news shows and court room newsshows. When the user interests cross more than one standard topic areathere is no mechanism to support selection and access by users today.What would be useful is a flexible, user configurable interface to asorting engine, which could sort an entertainment content database,based upon user selected fields of relevance which could then betraversed with content to be selected and played.

FIG. 2 presents a display of a prior art two-dimensional table ofcontents. Various simulated buttons appear on the display file 52, edit54 and 56. There is also a background area 12, a button area 50, avertical slider bar area 70, and a vertical scroll bar 72. A horizontalscroll bar area 74 and a horizontal scroll bar 76 are also provided tomove the display area in a horizontal two-dimensional manner. Variouscolumns 60, 62 63, 64 and 66 are also provided to organize informationin two-dimensional columnar fashion and similarly, there are rowsprovided to further organize information. Finally, tabs 80, 82, 84, 86and 88 are also provided to further organize information into tabbedpartitions giving the illusion of another dimension of organization.However, all of the organizational devices are predefined mechanismsthat must be carefully defined to match the information in a manualmanner by a user. The two-dimensional organization is clumsy and bulkyand would not lend itself to multi-dimensional, free form information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method in accordance with a preferred embodiment includes logic thatmaps content by determining a field of relevance and at least one topicin the field of relevance. The method determines at least one contentpertaining to the topic, retrieves a representation of the content andmaps the representation of the content onto the field of relevance. Thismethod advantageously provides an extremely flexible presentationmechanism where the content may be organized by multi-dimensionalmappings to show relevance in multiple dimensions that may vary throughpresentation of the content.

Another aspect of the invention provides a navigation aid for traversingmulti-dimensional information utilizing a variety of tools and a varietyof distinguishable entities. The method assigns a vector to each entity,queries either a user or software agent for a particular focal vectorand displays the multiplicity of distinguishable entities based upon theassigned vectors utilizing the focal vector as a reference point to viewthe information.

This method facilitates the organization of results of databaseinterrogations, web searches and other large data situations, creating amulti-dimensional topic space of content and the tools to navigate thespace effectively. The method advantageously supports use of a createdmulti-dimensional topic space by determining the focal vector anddisplaying the distinguishable entities. Traversing the topic space iseffected by changing the focal vector, causing the program to determinethe resultant change in the information view and displays thedistinguishable entities based upon the changed focal vector. Theresultant interface is an ergonomic, natural way to permit the traversalof otherwise large, unwieldy databases. The invention represents anovel, unique approach that matches nicely with the requirements of theInternet to efficiently examine the often enormous results from searchengines in a reasonable amount of time and effort. The invention isfurther responsive to either user or software agent direction.

The invention comprises a computer device containing software thatenabling a navigation tool for a multi-dimensional topic spaceimplemented on a computer readable medium comprising a multi-dimensionalvector space and a multiplicity of content elements. Each of the contentelements includes a location in the multi-dimensional vector space; anda content representation. This content storage provides amulti-dimensional approach to referencing and managing content,supporting access and traversal by a variety of mechanisms based upon aparadigm of the multi-dimensional vector space.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparentupon reading the following detailed descriptions and studying thevarious figures of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art one-dimensional table of content;

FIG. 2 displays a prior art two-dimensional table of content;

FIG. 3 displays a relevance field versus topic space mapping as a tablein accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 displays an independent salience weighting mechanism inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5A displays an interdependent salience weighting of two relevancefields in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5B displays an independent salience weighting of two relevancefields in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6A displays an interdependent salience weighting of three relevancefields;

FIG. 6B displays an independent salience weighting of three relevancefields in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7A displays an interdependent salience weighting of four relevancefields using a triangle and a slider in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 7B displays an independent salience weighting of four relevancefields using a tetrahedron in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 8A displays a truncated octahedron composed of planar faces as usedin accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8B displays the planar faces of the truncated octahedron of FIG. 8Aas used in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 displays the system block diagram of an apparatus in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention supporting the making, displaying,traversal and playing of a multi-dimensional topic space;

FIG. 10A is a user's view of a display in accordance with an embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 10B is another user's view of a display in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11A is a three dimensional cube diagram in accordance with apreferred embodiment;

FIG. 11B is a three dimensional cube diagram superimposed on anotherthree dimensional cube diagram displaced from the first cube diagram ina fourth dimension in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a four dimensional cube diagram formed by the translation ofthe first three dimensional cube diagram to the displaced second threedimensional cube diagram as used for user navigation in accordance witha preferred embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a tabular graph of points of the four dimensional cube ofFIG. 12 and the locations of those points in the four dimensional spacein accordance with a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a tabular graph of the two dimensional faces of the fourdimensional cube, their identification numbers and the named points andtheir locations in each two dimensional face in accordance with apreferred embodiment;

FIG. 15A is a diagram of a user interface showing the two dimensionalfaces of the four dimensional cube of FIG. 12, topic space parametercontrols, focal location and orientation controls in accordance with apreferred embodiment;

FIG. 15B is a diagram of a user interface showing the display region1048 of two dimensional faces, topic space parameter controls, focallocation and orientation controls in accordance with another preferredembodiment;

FIG. 15C is a detail diagram showing a portion of the display region1048 in which four exemplary two dimensional faces are displayed inaccordance with a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing several transformations of selected contentas displayed in response to changes in focal location and/or orientationin accordance with a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 17A is a diagram depicting the display of several contentrepresentations in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 17B is a diagram further depicting a transformation of severalcontent representations in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 18A is a diagram showing interrelationships between content and amap in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 18B is a diagram showing interrelationships between content and amap in accordance with another preferred embodiment;

FIG. 18C is a diagram showing interrelationships between content and amap in accordance with another preferred embodiment;

FIG. 18D is a diagram showing interrelationships between content and amap in accordance with another preferred embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the relationship between content in amulti-dimensional topic space and the traversal of content by a viewerover time;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a method of displaying, traversing, anddisplaying content in a multi-dimensional topic space in accordance witha preferred embodiment;

FIG. 21A is a detailed flowchart showing a preferred determination ofcontent related to topics with reference to operation 1504 in FIG. 20 inaccordance with a further preferred embodiment;

FIG. 21B is another detailed flowchart showing a preferred determinationof content related to topics with reference to operation 1504 in FIG. 20in accordance with an alternative further preferred embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a detailed flowchart showing mapping a representation ofcontent in topic space and display with reference to operation 1508 inFIG. 20 in accordance with a further preferred embodiment;

FIG. 23A is a diagram showing a topic space with a focal point and threetopics, each possessing a voice in accordance with a preferredembodiment; and

FIG. 23B is a block diagram showing one channel of the displayed(generated) audio content as a function of focal point and the voices ofdisplayed topics in accordance with FIG. 23A in a preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 were discussed previously with reference to the priorrelated art. A display in accordance with a preferred embodiment has thecapability of displaying information as multi-dimensional, visualinformation. In addition the display can also convey audio or tactileinformation to present for example, surround sound location,environmental feel and even such qualities as heat or texture. FIG. 3displays a relevance field versus topic space mapping as a table inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. Multi-dimensional asused in this document refers to information spans at least two axesproviding an ordering in as many dimensions as there are axes. Thus,two-dimensional organization refers to two axes providing a twodimensional ordering. Three-dimensional organization refers to threeaxes providing a three dimensional ordering. Four-dimensionalorganization refers to four axes providing a four dimensional ordering.Five-dimensional organization refers to five axes providing a fivedimensional ordering. And so on.

A field of relevance as used in this document refers to axes in amulti-dimensional organization. Two or more fields of relevance may beeither interdependent or independent.

A topic refers to any entity that may appear on a display or isassociated with content that appears on the display, which may be eithera single location or a collection of locations in a multi-dimensionalorganization. Content entities may further be related to topics thatprovide an organizational mechanism for information. The term mapping asused in this document refers to translating a particular dimension to aparticular content entity to provide organization and navigationalfeatures for the content.

The first row 100 of the table in accordance with a preferred embodimentcontains headings for the various columns of the table 102, 104, 106,108 and 110. Cell 102 contains a heading for a field of relevance alsolabeled as FIELD1. Cell 104 contains a heading for a field of relevancealso labeled as FIELD2. Cell 106 contains a heading for a field ofrelevance also labeled as FIELD3. Cell 108 contains a heading for afield of relevance also labeled as FIELD4. Cell 108 contains a headingfor a topic also labeled as TOPIC DESCRIPTION.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, there may be fewer fields ofrelevance evidenced by fewer columns in such a table. There may be morefields of relevance evidenced as more columns in such a table. All thetopics may be present in a single table similar to this, or at least twotables, with different fields of relevance, may be used to map some orall of the topics to these different collections of fields of relevanceor the number of fields of relevance in these different tables may varyfrom one table to another. What has been described above as columns canbe implemented as rows and what has been described above as rows mayinstead be implemented as columns. In other alternative embodiments,what has been described as a row may be implemented as an instance of adata structure or object class. In other alternative preferredembodiments of the invention, what has been described as a row may beimplemented as a linked list, with the entire table being furtherimplemented as a linked list of linked lists.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the cells of a specificcolumn of the table are associated with a field of relevance. Cells of aspecific column can be organized as a specific collection of acceptablevalues in certain preferred embodiments of the invention. The acceptablevalue collection may be implemented as a binary set. Examples of suchpreferred embodiment implementations include but are not limited to{0,1}, {TRUE, FALSE} or finite set of discrete elements in certainfurther preferred embodiments of the invention. Examples of suchpreferred embodiment implementations include but are not limited to{RED, GREEN, BLUE} or {CANADA, FRANCE, MEXICO, UK, US}.

Alternatively, the acceptable value collection may be implemented as aset of numeric elements. Examples of such preferred embodimentimplementations include but are not limited to a specific numericnotation, such as bit length of integers or a specific floating pointingnotation. The acceptable value collection may be further implemented asa set, which is a specified numeric range, in certain further preferredembodiments of the invention. Examples of such preferred embodimentimplementations include but are not limited to a percentages (which maybe represented as integers, fixed point or floating point numbers) or aspecific floating pointing range [−1.234 to π/4]. The acceptable valuecollection may be implemented as a set of elements, each element being aspecific numeric range, in certain further preferred embodiments of theinvention. Examples of such preferred embodiment implementations includebut are not limited to sets of percentage ranges with elements such as[0% to 10%] and [15% to 100%] as well as numeric ranges with elementssuch as [−5 to +3.12159] and [all numbers at least as big as 10.512] and[all numbers not larger than−1234].

FIG. 4 displays an independent salience weighting mechanism inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. A field of relevanceFIELD1, denoted by 102, has an associated slider represented by line 154with endpoints 150 and 156. Slider 154 uses points 152 and 153representing a range of relevance in certain preferred embodiments. Incertain preferred embodiments, point 153 is not visible and point 152then represents a specific relevance value.

Field of relevance FIELD2, denoted by 104, has an associated sliderrepresented by line 160 with endpoints 158 and 164. Slider 160 setting162 is shown at the endpoint 164. In certain further preferredembodiments, additional interface controls, such as arrow buttons areimplemented to extending the range of the slider on one or both ends ofthe line 160.

Field of relevance FIELD3, denoted by 106, has an associated sliderrepresented by line 170 with endpoints 166 and 172. Slider 170 setting168 is between endpoints 166 and 172. In certain preferred embodiments,the setting 168 may visit a limited collection of values, sometime aslittle as two values.

Field of relevance FIELD4, denoted by 108, has an associated sliderrepresented by line 178 with endpoints 174 and 180. Slider 178 setting176 is approximately at endpoint 174. In certain further preferredembodiments, additional interface controls, such as arrow buttons areimplemented to extending the range of the slider on one or both ends ofthe line 178.

FIG. 5A displays an interdependent salience weighting of two relevancefields 190 in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The points 192,194, 195 and 196 represent particular data associated with a field ofinterest. FIG. 5A illustrates that data split between two vertices canbe represented on a line. The closer to one end of the line or anotheris an indication of how strong the influence of the end'scharacteristics play in the datum being represented. Points 192 and 196represent the endpoints of the range of relevance between the two fieldsof relevance in certain preferred embodiments. Points 194 and 195represent a range of relevance in certain preferred embodiments. Incertain preferred embodiments, point 195 is not visible and point 194then represents a specific ratio of relevance between the two relevancefields.

FIG. 5B displays an independent salience weighting of two relevancefields in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The firstrelevance field is plotted on the X axis 200 and the second relevancefield is plotted on the Y axis 198. The intersection of a particularrelevance field in the Y axis 204 and a relevance field in the X axis206 is shown at point 202 which represents the interdependent salienceweighting.

FIG. 6A displays an interdependent salience weighting of three relevancefields in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The threerelevance fields represent a way of plotting three vectors 240, 242 and244 which determine a unique area 230 determined by the points 232, 234and 236 that form a triangle. Certain unique areas within the relevantfield are also defined 238. Data split between three vertices can berepresented in a triangle as shown in FIG. 6A. Data points located atthe vertex 232, 234 and 236 are wholly related to one variable and notat all to the other two. Moreover, data points located on one edge maybe influenced by two of the vertices but not at all by the third, anddata points located with the space of the triangle 238 would be tovarying degrees influenced by all three of the vertices 232, 234 and236. Finally a data point located at the center of the triangle, wouldbe equally influenced by the three vertices 232, 234 and 236.

FIG. 6B displays an independent salience weighting of three relevancefields represented as a three dimensional plot in accordance with apreferred embodiment. A first relevance field is plotted on the X axis254, a second relevance field is plotted on the Y axis 250 and a thirdrelevance field is plotted on the Z axis 252. A particular set ofdefining vectors 260, 262 and 258 uniquely define a volume 256representing a particular independent salience weighting in accordancewith a preferred embodiment, where the defining vectors 260, 262 and 258are seen as ranges on the respective coordinate axes.

FIG. 7A displays an interdependent salience weighting of four relevancefields using a triangle and a slider in accordance with a preferredembodiment. Three relevance fields are plotted as a triangle asdescribed with reference to FIG. 6A. Then, a slider 270 represented as aline segment with endpoints 272 and 274 is used to provide a fourthrelevance field and when a point such as 276 is selected on the sliderbar, it uniquely defines the area 238 in the triangle. Area 238 may beregarded as the product of ranges of interdependent fields of relevancein certain preferred embodiments.

FIG. 7B displays an independent salience weighting of four relevancefields using a tetrahedron in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. In this Figure, three triangles 230, 242 and 280 are combinedwith two points 298 and 300 just below the face of the triangle 242 touniquely define an enclosed region 290. Region 290 in certain preferredembodiments may be chosen to be a rectangular prism or “cube”. Region290 in certain preferred embodiments may be chosen to be a tetrahedron.Adding a fourth vertex naturally results in a tetrahedron as illustratedin FIG. 7B where the rules of a three sided form would be multiplied byfour (one set of three for each side), and thickened by the threedimensional space residing within the tetrahedron, the space providing aspace for varying degrees of influence by all four vertices. A problemarises in trying to fit this model onto a two dimensional display deviceusing opaque representations such as photographic or video still images.

To begin to solve this problem, the model was simplified by eliminatingthe inner space where all four vertices interact and by placing data atdiscrete locations between vertices. Effectively, a surface is definedon which data points can be located and modeling this surface as avirtually three dimensional object. A camera, represented by the screendisplay, is placed at the center of the object looking out at thesurface and the observer is given a means for moving around the outsideof the object to view all the sides of the surface. This allows the userto navigate around the space, select and focus on data points ofinterest residing on the virtual display surface and observe the objectin detail.

The model utilizes the limited placement of data points, so for example,a point located on the vertex, a point halfway between two vertices anda point midway between three vertices. The resultant form is one inwhich each potential datum placement location forms a flat side of afourteen sided object as illustrated in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B. On theseflat sides sit the opaque representations. The space of a vertex isrepresented by a hexagon, the space between two vertices is a square andthe space between three is again a hexagon.

FIG. 8A illustrates a truncated octahedron composed of planar faces asused in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The surfacesthat make up the truncated octahedron are shaped much like a soccerball, and when they are cut to transform a three-dimensional object intoa two-dimensional object, the resultant surface is illustrated in FIG.8B. FIG. 8B displays the planar faces of the truncated octahedron ofFIG. 8A in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 9 displays the system block diagram of an apparatus in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention supporting the making, displaying,traversal and playing of a multi-dimensional topic space. The apparatusincludes an external interface circuit 500, writeable content store 502,digital controller 504, display circuit 518 and selector circuit 522 andspeaker circuit 524. Digital controller 504 embodiments include but arenot limited to one or more of the following: general purposemicroprocessors, DSPs, parallel processors, embedded controllers andspecial purpose system controllers. General purpose microprocessorsinclude but are not limited to various word width CISC and RISC. DSPsinclude but are not limited to various word width computers employinginstruction sets allowing at least one add/subtract operation as well asat least one operation comparable to multiplication to be performed in asingle instruction cycle. Parallel processors include but are notlimited to SIMD, MIMD, and hybrid SIMD/MIMD organizations of eitheruniform or non-uniform processors.

Digital controller 504 embodiments further include but are not limitedto one or more microprocessors or DSPs along with additional circuitryperforming specialized data processing. Digital controller 504embodiments may further include but are not limited to capabilities forMPEG stream partitioning and/or decoding, copy protection processing,decryption, authentication and block data error detection andcorrection. Digital controller 504 embodiments may further include butare not limited to various implementations as PLAs, CPLDs, FPGAs, ASICsand ASSPs.

Digital controller 504 embodiments may further include but are notlimited to local memory resources in the form of RAM and/or nonvolatilememory and may further include but are not limited to various forms ofRAM and one or more caching banks of RAM. Digital controller 504embodiments of the invention may further include but are not limited toone or more of memory caches physically proximate to and possiblycontained within the digital controller 504 embodiments package orpackages. Memory caching may include but is not limited to separatecaching of memory and data. Memory caching may further include but isnot limited to multiple layers of cache structures. Distinct processorswithin the digital controller 504 embodiments of the invention mayfurther possess distinct caches as well as further localized memorywhich may in turn include RAM and/or nonvolatile memory. Digitalcontroller 504 embodiments of the invention nonvolatile memory mayfurther include but is not limited to boot ROMs and flash memorycircuits which may further emulate disk drives with a form of filemanagement system.

The external interface circuit 500 is coupled to digital controller 504as shown by arrow 508. One external interface circuit 500 embodiment ofthe invention incorporates a RF tuner including but not limited todemodulators and/or modulators for various broadcast protocols such asFM, FDMA, TDMA, various spread spectrum protocols, Wavelength DivisionMultiple Access and wavelet division multiple access. Embodiments ofexternal interface circuit 500 RF tuners may employ wireline or wirelessphysical transport layers. Embodiments of external interface circuit500, wireline physical transports include but are not limited to twistedpair, coaxial cable and various optical fiber mechanisms. Embodiments ofexternal interface circuit 500, wireless physical transports include butare not limited to contemporary broadcast television, HDTV, as well asvarious radio frequency, microwave and infra red implementations whichincorporate an antenna, sensor or array of antennas or sensors.

Certain preferred embodiments of external interface circuit 500 includebut are not limited to modems. Embodiments of external interface circuit500, modems include but are not limited to telephone line modemsincorporating various transceiver rates which may not be the same forreception as for transmission, as well as various DSL, ADSL, XDSL, ISBN,Ethernet, Token Ring and ATM interfaces. Embodiments of externalinterface circuit 500, modem physical transport layers include but arenot limited to wire line and wireless transport layers. Embodiments ofexternal interface circuit 500, modem wire line physical transportlayers include but are not limited to telephone lines, twisted pair wirelines, coaxial cabling and various optical fiber technologies.Embodiments of external interface circuit 500, modem wireless transportlayers include but are not limited to directional and non-directionalradio, microwave, infrared and optical schemes.

Embodiments of external interface circuit 500 may access externalcontent located at a substantial distance, often embodied within aserver supporting a network of user systems via interconnectionsembodiments of external interface circuit 500. Such networks may furthersupport TCP/IP thereby enabling support for the Internet. Such networksmay further support one or more Intranets. Such networks may furthersupport one or more Extranets.

Embodiments of external interface circuit 500 may include but are notlimited to video input devices, often possessing external interfacesincluding video frame capturing circuitry. Embodiments of externalinterface circuit 500 may further include image processing circuitryfurther supporting MPEG compatible compression and/or decompression ofthe captured video stream.

Coupling 508 can be implemented as a set of connections directly betweenexternal interface circuit 500 and digital controller 504 in certainpreferred embodiments of the invention. This coupling 508 can also beimplemented as a shared set of connections with other circuitry in otherpreferred embodiments of the invention. Further preferred embodimentsinclude effecting these couplings as transactions on the shared set ofconnections. Further preferred embodiments of the invention includethese shared connections forming a bus possessing a bus protocol.Further preferred embodiments of the invention include the bussupporting a digital bus protocol. Other preferred embodiments of theinvention include the bus supporting and encoded digital signalingwithin an essentially analog protocol, including but not limited toprotocols such as Firewire (P1394) and other optical fibercommunications protocols.

The external interface circuit 500 is also coupled to writeable contentstore 502 as shown by arrow 512. Coupling 512 may be effected by adedicated interconnection in certain preferred embodiments of theinvention. Coupling 512 may be further effected by a sharedinterconnection with other couplings, such as coupling 508 in certainfurther preferred embodiments.

The writeable content store 502 is coupled to a digital controller 504as shown by arrow 510. This coupling 510 may be a direct interface todigital controller 504 as a collection of electrical connections toelectrical contacts between the package of digital controller 504 andwriteable content store 502. In certain other preferred embodiments ofthe invention, the coupling 510 may be effected by a high speedcommunications line including but not limited to Fiber Channel orATM-SONET between digital controller 504 and writeable content store502.

The writeable content store 502 is coupled to a display circuit 518 asshown by arrow 514. This coupling 514 in certain preferred embodimentsof the invention may be a direct interface between display circuit 518and writeable content store 502. In certain other preferred embodimentsof the invention, the coupling 514 may be effected by a high speedcommunications line including but not limited to Fiber Channel orATM-SONET between display circuit 518 and writeable content store 502.

Display circuit 518 is coupled to digital controller 504 as shown byarrow 516. This coupling 516 in certain preferred embodiments of theinvention may be a direct interface between display circuit 518 andwriteable content store 502. In certain other preferred embodiments ofthe invention, the coupling 516 may be effected by a high speedcommunications line including but not limited to Fiber Channel orATM-SONET between display circuit 518 and writeable content store 502.Display circuit 518 embodiments may further include but are not limitedto capabilities for MPEG stream partitioning and/or decoding, copyprotection processing, decryption, authentication and block data errordetection and correction.

Selector circuit 522 is coupled to digital controller 504 by arrow 520.This coupling 516 in certain preferred embodiments of the invention maybe a direct interface between display circuit 518 and writeable contentstore 502. In certain other preferred embodiments of the invention, thecoupling may be effected by a communications line protocol including butnot limited to RS-232, USB or RS-485 between display circuit 518 andwriteable content store 502.

Note that in certain preferred embodiments of the invention, displaycircuit 518 includes but is not limited to format translationcapabilities. In further preferred embodiments of the invention, theformat translation capabilities further include and are not limited toMPEG stream decompression capabilities. In other further preferredembodiments of the invention, the format translation capabilitiesinclude wavelet algorithmic decompression capabilities. In other furtherpreferred embodiments of the invention, the format translationcapabilities include fractal algorithm decompression capabilities.Further preferred embodiments of the invention include but are notlimited to 3-D displays as well as multiple perspective displays ofhigher dimensional continuous content.

Speaker circuit 524 is coupled to digital controller 504 as shown byarrow 526. In certain preferred embodiments of the invention, coupling526 is implemented as a separate physical interface such as wiresdirectly coupling speaker circuit 524 to digital controller 504. Inother preferred embodiments of the invention, coupling 526 isimplemented as a collection of at least one kind of bus transaction on ashared bus. In further preferred embodiments of the invention, theshared bus is a USB bus. In other further preferred embodiments of theinvention, the shared bus is an ISA bus.

In certain preferred embodiments of the invention, speaker circuit 524may share coupling 514 to topic space content store 502 with displaycircuit 518. In certain preferred embodiments, this shared coupling maybe implemented as a shared bus with addressable devices. Note thatfurther preferred embodiments include but are not limited to audiopresentation circuitry. Further preferred embodiments include but arenot limited to force feedback tactile interfaces.

FIG. 10A is a user's view of a display in accordance with an embodimentof the invention. Box 600 depicts a region of display 12 furtherpartitioned into regions 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614 and 616corresponding to faces 402, 404, 406, 400, 414, 416, 420 and 418 of FIG.8B, respectively. The user has selected a focal point and orientation inwhich these faces are visible at the relative proportions projected asdisplayed.

FIG. 10B is another user's view of a display in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. Box 600 depicts a region of display 12further partitioned into regions 602, 604, 608, 612, 614 and 616corresponding to faces 402, 404, 400, 416, 420 and 418 of FIG. 8B,respectively. The user has selected a focal point and orientation inwhich these faces are visible at the relative proportions projected asdisplayed. In comparing this figure with FIG. 10A, it can be seen thatthe orientation has essentially not changed from the previous figure,but the focal point has moved closer to the face 402 of FIG. 8B as shownin the enlargement of region 602. Alternatively, the change in view maybe effected by narrowing the field of view in certain preferredembodiments.

FIG. 11A is a three dimensional cube diagram in accordance with apreferred embodiment. The cube contains points 700, 702, 704, 706, 708,710, 712 and 714. These points are connected by lines 750, 752, 754,756, 758, 760, 762, 764, 766, 768 and 770.

FIG. 11B is a three dimensional cube diagram superimposed on anotherthree dimensional cube diagram displaced 772 from the first cube diagramin a fourth dimension in accordance with a preferred embodiment. Thefirst cube contains points 700, 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, 712 and 714.The second cube contains points 716, 718, 720, 722, 724, 726, 728 and730 which have been displaced from points 700, 702, 704, 706, 708, 710,712 and 714, respectively of the first cube in a fourth dimensionaldirection 772.

FIG. 12 is a four dimensional cube diagram formed by the translation ofthe first three dimensional cube diagram to the displaced second threedimensional cube diagram as used for user navigation in accordance witha preferred embodiment. The first cube contains points 700, 702, 704,706, 708, 710, 712 and 714. The second cube contains points 716, 718,720, 722, 724, 726, 728 and 730 which have been displaced in parallelfrom points 700, 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, 712 and 714, respectively ofthe first cube in a fourth dimensional direction 772.

Displacement 772 connects points 700 and 716 along a fourth dimension.

Displacement 774 connects points 702 and 718 along this fourthdimension.

Displacement 776 connects points 704 and 720 along this fourthdimension.

Displacement 778 connects points 706 and 722 along this fourthdimension.

Displacement 780 connects points 708 and 724 along this fourthdimension.

Displacement 782 connects points 710 and 726 along this fourthdimension.

Displacement 784 connects points 712 and 728 along this fourthdimension.

Displacement 786 connects points 714 and 730 along this fourthdimension.

The points of the first three-dimensional cube are connected by lines750, 752, 754, 756, 758, 760, 762, 764, 766, 768 and 770. The points ofthe second three-dimensional cube are connected by lines 800, 802, 804,806, 808, 810, 812, 814, 816, 818 and 820. The parallel displacementsalong this fourth dimension provide the remaining lines of thefour-dimensional cube, namely displacements 772, 774, 776, 778, 780,782, 784 and 786.

Note that in certain embodiments, the dimensions of the topic space arenot related to physical dimensions, such a length, width, depth ortemporal displacement. They often refer to other entities, such ascoloration, scores on specific tests, etc.

FIG. 13 is a tabular graph of points of the four dimensional cube ofFIG. 12 and the locations of those points in the four dimensional spacein accordance with a preferred embodiment. Associated with each point isa location, denoted by four numerals. Each numeral component of alocation is either ‘0’ or ‘1’.

The first cube contains points 700, 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, 712 and 714which share a first location component of ‘0’. The second cube containspoints 716, 718, 720, 722, 724, 726, 728 and 730 which have beendisplaced from points 700, 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, 712 and 714, whichshare a first location component of ‘1’. The choice of thesedesignations is in accordance with a preferred embodiment chosen tominimize notational and conceptual complexity. The four dimensional cubeis the cube occupying the range from 0 to 1 in each of the fourdimensions. The original is point 700, with location ‘0000’. The fourcoordinate axes are associated with lines through origin 700 to 702,704, 706 and 716.

FIG. 14 is a tabular graph of the two dimensional faces of the fourdimensional cube, their identification numbers and the named points andtheir locations in each two dimensional face in accordance with apreferred embodiment. Examining FIG. 12 shows that the four dimensionalcube can be seen to contain 24 two-dimensional faces, known hereafter asfaces. These faces will be identified by the numbers: 900, 902, 904,906, 918, 910, 912, 914, 916, 918, 920, 922, 924, 926, 928, 930, 932,934, 936, 938, 940, 942, 944 and 946. Each face is determined by fourpoints of the four dimensional cube. The four points determining a facevary in only two of the location components across all four of thesepoints. The provided table shows the four points, both in terms of thepoint identifiers and also in terms of the location notation presentedin FIG. 13.

Face 900 is determined by points 700, 702, 704 and 708. Face 902 isdetermined by points 700, 702, 706 and 714. Face 904 is determined bypoints 700, 704, 706 and 710. Face 906 is determined by points 706, 710,712 and 714. Face 908 is determined by points 704, 710, 712 and 708.

Face 910 is determined by points 702, 714, 712 and 708. Face 912 isdetermined by points 716, 718, 720 and 724. Face 914 is determined bypoints 716, 718, 722 and 730. Face 916 is determined by points 716, 720,722 and 726. Face 918 is determined by points 722, 726, 728 and 730.

Face 920 is determined by points 720, 726, 728 and 724. Face 922 isdetermined by points 718, 730, 728 and 724. Face 924 is determined bypoints 700, 716, 718 and 702. Face 926 is determined by points 700, 716,722 and 706. Face 928 is determined by points 702, 718, 730 and 714.

Face 930 is determined by points 706, 714, 730 and 722. Face 932 isdetermined by points 704, 720, 724 and 708. Face 934 is determined bypoints 704, 720, 710 and 726. Face 936 is determined by points 708, 724,728 and 712. Face 938 is determined by points 726, 712, 728 and 710.

Face 940 is determined by points 700, 716, 704 and 720. Face 942 isdetermined by points 706, 722, 710 and 726. Face 944 is determined bypoints 702, 718, 708 and 724. Face 946 is determined by points 714, 730,712 and 728.

The contents of the four-dimensional cube can be examined by presentingthe projections of those contents upon one or more of these faces. Sucha representation is two-dimensional, since the projections onto eachface must be two-dimensional.

FIG. 15A is a diagram of a user interface showing the two dimensionalfaces of the four dimensional cube of FIG. 12, topic space parametercontrols, focal location and orientation controls in accordance with apreferred embodiment.

Regions 1000, 1002, 1004, 1006, 1018, 1010, 1012, 1014, 1016, 1018,1020, 1022, 1024, 1026, 1028, 1030, 1032, 1034, 1036, 1038, 1040, 1042,1044 and 1046 are used to display the four-dimensional cube contentsonto faces 900, 902, 904, 906, 918, 910, 912, 914, 916, 918, 920, 922,924, 926, 928, 930, 932, 934, 936, 938, 940, 942, 944 and 946.Identifier 1048 will hereafter represent the collection of displayedface projections, which will be considered to be all of the regions1000, 1002, 1004, 1006, 1018, 1010, 1012, 1014, 1016, 1018, 1020, 1022,1024, 1026, 1028, 1030, 1032, 1034, 1036, 1038, 1040, 1042, 1044 and1046.

Note that in certain preferred embodiments, each of the regionscorresponds to a distinct face projection of the four dimensional cube.In certain other embodiments, there are fewer than 24 regions, so thatless than all the face projections are displayed. In certain otherembodiments, one or more of the regions may display the same face. Incertain further embodiments, there are more than the displayed 24regions, with the contents of certain regions being identical, exceptperhaps for being rotated or flipped. In certain preferred embodiments,the regions are not all the same size.

Sliders 1050, 1052, 1054 and 1056 control the range of each coordinateaxis of the topic space four-dimensional cube as diagrammed anddiscussed in FIGS. 11A, 11B, 12, 13 and 14 above. Slider 1050 contains aselection range 1060. Slider 1052 contains a selection range 1062.Slider 1054 contains a selection range 1064. Slider 1056 contains aselection range 1066.

Sliders 1070, 1072, 1074 and 1076 control the focal point with regardsto the four-dimensional cube as diagrammed and discussed in FIGS. 11A,11B, 12, 13 and 14 above. Slider 1070 contains setting 1080. Slider 1072contains setting 1082. Slider 1074 contains setting 1084. Slider 1076contains setting 1086. Dials 1090, 1092, 1094 and 1096 control anddisplay the current orientation of the focal point with regards to thefour-dimensional cube as diagrammed and discussed in FIGS. 11A, 11B, 12,13 and 14 above.

FIG. 15B is a diagram of a user interface showing the display region1048 of two-dimensional faces, topic space parameter controls, focallocation and orientation controls in accordance with another preferredembodiment. Sliders 1050, 1052, 1054 and 1056 controlling the range ofeach coordinate axis of the topic space four-dimensional cube aredistributed along each side of display regions 1048. Sliders 1070, 1072,1074 and 1076 each controlling one coordinate setting of the focal pointof the four-dimensional cube are distributed along each side of displayregions 1048. Dials 1090, 1092, 1094 and 1096 control and display thecurrent orientation of the focal point with regards to thefour-dimensional cube are distributed in each of the comers of thedisplay regions 1048.

FIG. 15C is a detail diagram showing a portion of the display region1048 in which four exemplary two-dimensional faces, 1000, 1002, 1012 and1014 are displayed in accordance with a preferred embodiment. Region1000 presents the projection upon face 900, as determined by points 700,702, 704 and 708. Region 1002 presents the projection upon face 902, asdetermined by points 700, 702, 706 and 714. Region 1012 presents theprojection upon face 912, as determined by points 716, 718, 720 and 724.Region 1014 presents the projection upon face 914, as determined bypoints 716, 718, 722 and 730.

Note that each region is oriented in its display by the comer placementof each determining point in certain preferred embodiments. Certainfurther preferred embodiments use a location notation such as found FIG.13 to denote the determining points of a region's face. These pointnotations may appear outside their associated region in certainpreferred embodiment. In certain further preferred embodiments, theselocations are denoted by graphical symbols. In certain preferredembodiments, adjacent regions may share a pair of common points, thusshare a common line segment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing several transformations of selected contentas displayed in response to changes in focal location and/or orientationin accordance with a preferred embodiment. By way of example, threecontent representations A, B and C are presented in the presentations1100, 1102, 1104, 1106,1108, 1110 and 1112. Lines 1120, 1122, 1124,1126, 1128, 1130, 1134, 1136, 1138, 1140, 1142 and 1144 representdisplay transitions effected by motion of the focal point determined bythe system. A user or software agent may effect such focal point motionin certain preferred embodiments.

Transition 1120 is between display combination 1100 and 1102. Displaycombination 1100 shows a large displayed content region A, with smallerregions B and C. Display combination 1102 shows displayed contentregions A and C comparable in size and slightly overlapping, with regionB being smaller and non-overlapping. Suppose that display combination1100 is presented, and that a user moves a pointing device such as amouse toward the display region C. The system would display combination1102 by way of transition 1120. Suppose instead that display combination1102 is presented, and that a user moves a pointing device such as amouse toward the display region A. The system would display combination1100 by way of transition 1120.

Note that this symmetry of moving a pointing device toward something anda particular transition occurs, move it in the opposite direction andthe reverse transition occurs will be assumed from hereon in thediscussion of this and other figures. This has been done to simplify thediscussion and is not meant to communicate a lack of symmetry betweenthe motion of the focal point and the displayed contents.

Transition 1122 is between display combination 1102 and 1106. Transition1124 is between display combination 1100 and 1106. Display combination1106 shows displayed content regions A, B and C where the three regionsare approximately the same size and all of them overlap. Suppose thatdisplay combination 1100 is presented, and that a user moves a pointingdevice such as a mouse toward midpoint between display region B and C.The system would display combination 1106 by way of transition 1124.Suppose instead that display combination 1102 is presented, and that auser moves a pointing device such as a mouse toward the display regionB. The system would display combination 1106 by way of transition 1122.

Transition 1126 is between display combination 1102 and 1104. Transition1128 is between display combination 1106 and 1104. Display combination1104 shows a large displayed content region C, with smaller regions Band A. Suppose that display combination 1102 is presented, and that auser moves a pointing device such as a mouse toward display region C.The system would display combination 1104 by way of transition 1126.Suppose instead that display combination 1106 is presented, and that auser moves a pointing device such as a mouse toward the display regionC. The system would display combination 1104 by way of transition 1128.

Transition 1130 is between display combination 1104 and 1108. Transition1134 is between display combination 1106 and 1108. Display combination1108 shows displayed content regions B and C approximately the same sizeand overlapping with displayed content region A smaller andnon-overlapping. Suppose that display combination 1106 is presented, andthat a user moves a pointing device such as a mouse downward near themidpoint between display regions B and C. The system would displaycombination 1108 by way of transition 1134. Suppose instead that displaycombination 1104 is presented, and that a user moves a pointing devicesuch as a mouse toward the display region B. The system would displaycombination 1108 by way of transition 1130.

Transition 1136 is between display combination 1108 and 1112. Transition1138 is between display combination 1106 and 1112. Display combination1112 shows displayed content region B larger in size and overlappingwith displayed content regions A and C, which are smaller and overlapwith B. Suppose that display combination 1106 is presented, and that auser moves a pointing device such as a mouse toward display region B.The system would display combination 1112 by way of transition 1138.Suppose instead that display combination 1108 is presented, and that auser moves a pointing device such as a mouse toward the display regionB. The system would display combination 1112 by way of transition 1136.

Transition 1142 is between display combination 1106 and 1110. Transition1140 is between display combination 1112 and 1110. Display combination1110 shows displayed content regions A and B comparable in size andslightly overlapping, with region C being smaller and non-overlapping.Suppose display combination 1106 is presented, and that a user moves apointing device such as a mouse toward the midpoint between displayregions A and B. The system would display combination 1110 by way oftransition 1142. Suppose instead that display combination 1112 ispresented, and that a user moves a pointing device such as a mousetoward the display region A. The system would display combination 1110by way of transition 1140.

Transition 1144 is between display combination 1100 and 1110. Supposethat display combination 1100 is presented, and that a user moves apointing device such as a mouse toward display region B. The systemwould display combination 1110 by way of transition 1144.

FIG. 17A is a diagram depicting the display of several contentrepresentations in accordance with a preferred embodiment. Displayregion 1210 contains regions 1200, 1202, 1204, 1206 and 1208. Content1200 is approximately the same size as 1202, 1204, 1206 and 1208. Notethat the sides of content 1200 are not parallel to the sides of 1202,1204, 1206 and 1208.

Regions 1200, 1202, 1204, 1206 and 1208 show diverse forms of content.Region 1200 may present objects which may each expand into their ownpresentations. Region 1202 may represent a multimedia sequence inmotion. Region 1204 may represent a program interface, such as a userinterface to a simulation environment or video game. Region 1206 mayrepresent a text window, which may automatically be scrolling. Region1208 may represent a still frame, such as a map of San Francisco.

Suppose the user directs a pointing device to move the focal pointcloser to the content 1200.

FIG. 17B is a diagram further depicting a transformation of severalcontent representations in accordance with a preferred embodiment, whichresults from moving the focal point closer to content 1200. Note thatcontent region 1200 has grown significantly larger than regions 1202,1204, 1206 and 1208.

FIG. 18A is a diagram showing interrelationships between content 1302and a map 1300 in accordance with a preferred embodiment. A preferredembodiment alternatively displays map 1300 and content 1302. The map1300 influences the traversal and display of content 1302 as representedby arrow 1306. Arrow 1304 represents the referencing of the map 1300 bymovement and manipulation of content 1302.

FIG. 18B is a diagram showing interrelationships between content 1302and a map 1300 in accordance with another preferred embodiment, wheremap 1300 and content 1302 are displayed simultaneously. Boundary 1308between the displayed content region 1302 and the displayed map region1300 may be further shown with additional attributes in certainpreferred embodiments.

FIG. 18C is a diagram showing interrelationships between content 1302and a map 1300 in accordance with another preferred embodiment, wherecontent 1302 is displayed within map 1300. Boundary 1308 between thedisplayed content region 1302 and the displayed map region 1300 may befurther shown with additional attributes in certain preferredembodiments.

FIG. 18D is a diagram showing interrelationships between content 1302and a hidden map 1310 in accordance with another preferred embodiment.The hidden map 1310 interacts with displayed content 1302 in a fashiontransparent to a user as represented by the ‘+’ sign 1312. A selectordevice 1314 may be used to direct the system to present content 1302based upon the hidden map 1310 across a transport mechanism 1316.Alternatively, a system agent may direct the system to present content1302 based on the hidden map 1310.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the relationship between content in amulti-dimensional topic space and the traversal of content by a viewerover time. Content presentations A, B, C and D each take place of aperceptible interval of time for a user. During each presentation, anymoment in a presentation may vary in relevance to the presented materialthe other content presentations. By way of example, a presentationsequence on Thomas Jefferson may at certain times be close in relevanceto the subject of patents, and at other moments in the presentation, beclose to the subject of religion, slavery, architecture or languages.This diagram shows by way of example how four illustrative contentpresentations might be annotated and display such relationships.

Line 1400 shows the time line for a user viewing presentation A, with auser progressing forward in time by progressing from left to right alongline 1400.

Line 1402 shows the time line for a user viewing presentation B, with auser progressing forward in time by progressing from left to right alongline 1402.

Line 1404 shows the time line for a user viewing presentation C, with auser progressing forward in time by progressing from left to right alongline 1404.

Line 1406 shows the time line for a user viewing presentation D, with auser progressing forward in time by progressing from left to right alongline 1406.

Box 1410 represents a given moment 1412 for a user viewing presentationA with presentations B and C being close to presentation A as shown inbox 1414. Box 1420 represents a given moment 1422 for a user viewingpresentation A with only presentation B being close to presentation A asshown in box 1424. Box 1430 represents a given moment 1432 for a userviewing presentation A with only presentation D being close topresentation A as shown in box 1434. Box 1440 represents a given moment1442 for a user viewing presentation A with presentations D and B beingclose to presentation A as shown in box 1444.

In certain preferred embodiments, more than one content region would beessentially displayed at the same time. In certain other preferredembodiments, the relations of where content is displayed within thedisplay content boxes may be governed by the geometry inherent in amulti-dimensional space such as displayed and discussed in FIGS. 8A, 8B,10A and 10B. In certain other preferred embodiments, the relations ofwhere content is displayed within the display content boxes may begoverned by the geometry inherent in a multi-dimensional space such asdisplayed and discussed in FIGS. 11A, 11B, 12 as well as FIGS. 13, 14,15A, 15B and 1SC.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a method of displaying, traversing, anddisplaying content in a multi-dimensional topic space in accordance witha preferred embodiment. Operation 1500 starts the method, which incertain preferred embodiments, incorporates temporary allocation ofrequired system resources for the operations to follow.

Arrow 1502 is the first iteration point of this flowchart, directingexecution toward operation 1504, which determines topics in the field ofrelevance. Operation 1504 will be discussed in greater detail during thediscussion of FIGS. 21A and 21B. Operation 1505 determines contentrelated to the topics determined by operation 1504.

Operation 1506 causes the retrieval of content representations. Thisoperation effects transfers between External Interface circuit 500,Topic Space Content Store 502, controlled by Digital Controller 504.

Operation 1508 maps the retrieved content representations into topicspace and displays the results. Operation 1508 will be discussed ingreater detail during the discussion of FIG. 22.

Arrow 1510 directs execution to operation 1512, which determines whetherthere has been a change in the field of view. In certain preferredembodiments, such changes may be determined by action of a selectordevice such as 1314 in FIG. 18D. In certain other preferred embodiments,changes in the field of view may be determined by sliders such as shownin FIGS. 4, 5A and 7A. In certain other preferred embodiments, changesin the field of view may be determined by sliders such as 1070, 1072,1074 and 1076 as well as dials 1090, 1092, 1094 and 1096 as shown inFIGS. 15A and 15B. In certain other preferred embodiments, changes inthe field of view may be determined by one or more system agents.

If there has been no change in the field of view, arrow 1514 directsexecution to operation 1516, which determines whether content has beenselected. Such selection may be determined by the use of a selectiondevice 1314 in FIG. 18D, or by a system agent. If no content has beenselected, arrows 1518 and 1510 direct execution to iterate by executingoperation 1512 again.

If operation 1516 determines that some content has been selected, arrow1520 directs execution to operation 1522, which displays the selectedcontent. This operation may present content including but not limited tomotion video, audio sequences and programs executing to portrayinteractions, such as simulations.

If operation 1512 determined a change of field of view has occurred,arrows 1526, 1524 and 1502 direct execution to operation 1504, discussedabove.

In certain preferred embodiments, arrows 1524 and 1502 direct executionto operation 1504 before completion of operation 1522. In certain otherpreferred embodiments, operations 1512 and/or 1516 may occur essentiallyconcurrently with operation 1522. In certain preferred embodiments, morethan one content may be displayed at essentially the same time.

FIG. 21A is a detailed flowchart showing a preferred determination ofcontent related to topics with reference to operation 1504 in FIG. 20 inaccordance with a further preferred embodiment supporting a projectionmethod of mapping the retrieved content representations into topic spaceand displaying the results.

Operation 1602 determines the orientation and zoom level from the focalpoint. The zoom level is inversely proportional to the distance betweena face and the focal point. This determination can be performed bymonitoring sliders and/or dials of a user interface as shown in FIGS.15A or 15B.

Operation 1604 calculates the field of view given the zoom level andorientation. The field of view will intersect with some, or all, of thebounding surface of the topic space such as the results shown in FIGS.8A, 8B, 10A and 10B or alternatively as shown in FIGS. 12, 15A and 15C.

Operation 1606 calculates the visual surface area based upon the fieldof view, zoom level and orientation such as shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, 10Aand 10B or alternatively as shown in FIGS. 12, 15A and 15C.

Operation 1608 determines which topics and subtopics are present in thevisible surface area. FIGS. 16, 17A, 17B and 19 provide examples of theresults of such determinations.

FIG. 21B is another detailed flowchart showing a preferred determinationof content related to topics with reference to operation 1504 in FIG. 20in accordance with an alternative further preferred embodimentsupporting a volumetric projection method of mapping the retrievedcontent representations into topic space and displaying the results.This approach is particularly useful when the topic space contentscontains a large number of items.

Operation 1620 determines the location, orientation, zoom level, depthof field and focus. These parameters operate similarly to comparableimaging parameters in cameras in certain preferred embodiments. In otherpreferred embodiments, the depth of field and focus can work to chop outrather than fade or blur anything not within a given range of aparameter including but not limited to radial distance from the focus.This determination can be performed by monitoring sliders and/or dialsof a user interface as shown in FIGS. 15A or 15B.

Operation 1622 calculates the field of view given the location,orientation, zoom level, depth of field and focus. Operation 1624calculates the visible spatial boundary area determined by field ofview, depth of field and focus. The field of view will intersect withsome, or all, of the bounding surface of the topic space such as shownin FIGS. 8A, 8B, 10A and 10B or alternatively as shown in FIGS. 12, 15Aand 15C.

Operation 1626 determines which topics and subtopics are present in thevisible boundary area. FIGS. 16, 17A, 17B and 19 provide examples ofsuch determinations.

FIG. 22 is a detailed flowchart mapping a representation of content intopic space and display with reference to operation 1508 in FIG. 20 inaccordance with a further preferred embodiment.

Operation 1640 determines salience of found content objects to currentlypresent topics and subtopics. Found content objects may represent thecoordinate axes in certain preferred embodiments. Examples of theseembodiments may be seen in FIGS. 4, 5A, 5B, 6B, 11A and 12. Foundcontent objects may represent interdependent relationships in certainalternative embodiments as shown in FIGS. 6A, 7A and 7B.

Operation 1642 calculates the spatial location of each content object onrelative position to spatial location of each element topic and subtopicand operation 1644 displays each content object representation. Examplesof the results of these operations are seen in FIGS. 7B, 16, 17A and17B.

FIG. 23A is a diagram showing a topic space with a focal point and threetopics, each possessing a voice in accordance with a preferredembodiment. The topic space 1700 is an interrelated topic space withtopical objects 1704, 1706 and 1708. The focal point 1702 is a distancefrom each of the topic objects 1704, 1706 and 1708. Each voice can beconsidered to be playing a different melodic component, so that the uservirtually located at focal point 1702 experiences proximity anddirection based upon the mixing of the voices of the content objects inproportions relative to the respective distances from topics 1704, 1706and 1708.

FIG. 23B is a block diagram showing one channel of the displayed(generated) audio content as a function of focal point and the voices ofdisplayed topics in accordance with FIG. 23A in a preferred embodiment.

Box 1710 generates the voice for topic object 1704 as signal 1720 whichis amplified by 1730 based upon control signal 1750 from box 1760 tocreate signal 1740. Box 1712 generates the voice for topic object 1706as signal 1722 which is amplified by 1732 based upon control signal 1752from box 1760 to create signal 1742. Box 1714 generates the voice fortopic object 1708 as signal 1724 which is amplified by 1734 based uponcontrol signal 1754 from box 1760 to create signal 1744. Node 1762effectively adds signals 1740, 1742 and 1744 to generate signal 1764which then drives output speaker 1766. Note that node 1762 may furtherincorporate power amplification in certain preferred embodiments. Incertain other preferred embodiments, signal 1720, 1722 and 1724 arecombined prior to amplification.

The invention is implemented on an interactive video composition toolbuilt in Macromedia Director on a PowerPC processor utilizing a MacOSoperating system. The topic space was modeled in Strata Studio Pro andrendered into a QuickTime virtual reality scene with hot-spots usingApple's QuickTime VR software development toolkit extensions to theMacintosh Programmers Workshop application. Pan and zoom controls areprovided to facilitate direct manipulation navigation and a set of fourtopic focusing toggle buttons are provided for specifying interest inthe presence of individual vectors or intersections of the vectors whichcan be set by a user to rotate and zoom the view to focus on thatsurface of the TopicSpace. A status bar is also provided to indicate anddetail the current topic focus. One of ordinary skill in the art willreadily comprehend that a VRML version of the system could place a userin the center of a volumetric representation and provide the illusion ofthe display occurring around the user. As the video which is annotatedwith topics distributed in the space is played, the user's point of viewtraverses the space coordinated with the track of the video.

An alternative embodiment consists of a series of software filters setby check boxes or state buttons with resultant intersections displayedin a dedicated window pane. This technique requires a targeted searchand a separate visualization step to allow a user to navigate throughthe information. Because the range of potential advantage extends acrossa variety of applications for a variety of media types, operating systemand development system vendors will incorporate this functionalcapability into products to provide application developers access tothese powerful tools.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example only, and notlimitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment shouldnot be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments, butshould be defined only in accordance with the following claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for navigating in a multi-dimensionaltopic space on a display, comprising the steps of: determining at leastone topic; retrieving content associated with the at least one topic;assigning a vector to the at least one topic; determining a focal pointbased on the at least one topic; mapping the content representative ofthe at least one topic on a display as a multi-dimensional topic spacebased on the vector and the focal point: and navigating amongst thecontent representative of the at least one topic.
 2. A method fornavigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited inclaim 1, and further comprising the step of responding to a user indiciato traverse the multi-dimensional topic space on the display, whereintraversing at least one topic results in a dynamic mapping of a view ofthe content.
 3. A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topicspace on a display as recited in claim 2, wherein a topic influencesnavigation through the information on the display.
 4. A method fornavigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited inclaim 1, wherein content influences navigation to a view exposingadditional detail pertaining to the display of information.
 5. A methodfor navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display asrecited in claim 1, wherein a field of relevance includes detecting achange of the field of relevance and navigating to informationpertaining to the field of relevance based on the change.
 6. A methodfor navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display asrecited in claim 1, wherein mapping the content representative of thetopic in the field of relevance, includes the steps of: determiningrelative salience of the content; calculating a spatial location for thecontent based upon the relative salience of the content; displaying thecontent at the spatial location of the content; and navigating to thecontent.
 7. A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic spaceon a display as recited in claim 2, wherein the user indicia is suppliedby positioning a cursor.
 8. A method for navigating in amulti-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 1,including the steps of utilizing a user position to map the contentrepresentative of the topic in the field of relevance on the display andnavigating to a field of relevance on the display.
 9. A method fornavigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited inclaim 1, including the step of mapping the content representative of thetopic in the field of relevance in a multi-dimensional manner andnavigating to a topic in the field of relevance in a multi-dimensionalmanner.
 10. A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic spaceon a display as recited in claim 1, including the step of mapping thecontent representative of the topic in the field of relevance on aplurality of projection surfaces on the display and navigating to atopic in the field of relevance on a plurality of projection surfaces.11. A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on adisplay as recited in claim 10, including the step of mapping thecontent representative of the topic in the field of relevance on aplurality of projection surfaces of a polyhedron on a display andtraversing the polyhedron to navigate to the topic in the field ofrelevance.
 12. A computer program embodied on a computer readable mediumfor navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display,comprising: code that determines at least one topic; code that retrievescontent representative of the at least one topic; code that assigns avector to the at least one topic; code that determines a focal pointbased on at least one topic; code that maps the content representativeof the at least one topic on a display as a multi-dimensional topicspace based on the vector and the focal point; and code that navigatesamongst the content representative of the at least one topic.
 13. Acomputer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigatingin a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12,wherein at least one topic results in a dynamic mapping of a view of thecontent.
 14. A computer program embodied on a computer readable mediumfor navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display asrecited in claim 13, wherein a topic influences navigation through theinformation on the display.
 15. A computer program embodied on acomputer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topicspace on a display as recited in claim 12, wherein content influencesnavigation to a view exposing additional detail pertaining to thecontent on the display.
 16. A computer program embodied on a computerreadable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on adisplay as recited in claim 12, wherein a field of relevance includesdetecting a change of the field of relevance and navigating toinformation pertaining to the field of relevance based on the change.17. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium fornavigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited inclaim 12, wherein mapping the content representative of the topic in thefield of relevance on the display in a manner centering attention on thecontent, includes: code that determines relative salience of thecontent; code that calculates a spatial location for the content basedupon the relative salience of the content; code that displays thecontent at the spatial location of the content; and code that navigatesamong the content.
 18. A computer program embodied on a computerreadable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on adisplay as recited in claim 12, and further comprising code thatresponds to a user indicia to traverse the multi-dimensional topic spaceon the display, wherein the user indicia is supplied by positioning acursor and selecting the area on the display.
 19. A computer programembodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in amulti-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12,including code that utilizes a position to map the contentrepresentative of the topic in the field of relevance on the display andcode that navigates to a field of relevance on the display.
 20. Acomputer program embodied on a computer readable medium for Navigatingin a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12,including code that maps the content representative of the topic in thefield of relevance in a multi-dimensional manner and navigates to thetopic in the field of relevance in a multi-dimensional manner.
 21. Acomputer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigatingin a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12,including code that maps the content representative of the topic in thefield of relevance on a plurality of projection surfaces on the display,navigates to the topic in the field of relevance on a plurality ofprojection surfaces and presents the information in the field ofrelevance utilizing multimedia presentation techniques.
 22. A computerprogram embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in amulti-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12,including code that maps the content representative of the topic in thefield of relevance on a plurality of projection surfaces of a polyhedronon the display and code that traverses the polyhedron to navigate to thetopic in the field of relevance.
 23. An apparatus for navigating in amulti-dimensional topic space on a display, comprising: a processor withan attached memory; a display coupled to the processor that displaysinformation; logic that determines at least one topic in the relevantfield; logic that retrieves content representative of the at least onetopic; logic that assigns a vector to the at least one topic; logic thatdetermines a focal point based on the at least one topic; logic thatmaps the content representative of the at least one topic on a displayas a multi-dimensional topic space based upon the vector as the vectorcorrelates with the focal point; and logic that navigates amongst thecontent representative of the at least one topic.